A minimum of 550 individuals have died throughout the Hajj pilgrimage to the holy metropolis of Mecca within the scorching warmth, it has been reported.
Temperatures reached at the very least 51.8C (125F) within the shade within the Saudi Arabian metropolis, as enormous crowds of Muslims undertook the annual spiritual journey – one of many 5 pillars of Islam.
“Hajj is a troublesome activity, so it’s important to exert efforts and carry out the rituals even within the situations of warmth and crowding,” an Egyptian pilgrim mentioned.
Pilgrims used umbrellas to guard themselves from the solar, as Saudi authorities warned pilgrims to remain hydrated and keep away from being open air throughout the hottest hours between 11am and 3pm.
Stampedes, tent fires and different accidents have triggered a whole bunch of deaths throughout the Hajj prior to now 30 years. Some 240 individuals reportedly died final 12 months.
This 12 months’s pilgrimage started on Friday and as regular coincided with the spiritual vacation, Eid al-Adha.
Dozens of deaths have been reported throughout this 12 months’s Hajj, with the AFP information company placing the overall at 550, citing diplomats.
Some 323 of the {dead} had been Egyptians, most of whom perished on account of warmth associated sickness, AFP mentioned.
Muslim pilgrims stroll in Mina, Saudi Arabia. Pic: Reuters
A 2024 examine by the Journal of Journey and Drugs discovered that rising world temperatures could outpace methods to take care of the warmth. A 2019 examine by Geophysical Analysis Letters mentioned that as temperatures rise in arid Saudi Arabia on account of local weather change, pilgrims performing Hajj will face “excessive hazard”.
A Saudi well being official, talking on Monday earlier than most of the stories of deaths had been issued, mentioned authorities had not observed any uncommon fatalities amongst Muslim pilgrims amid the extraordinarily excessive temperatures.
The ministry had to this point handled greater than 2,700 pilgrims who suffered from heat-related sickness, he added.
Learn extra: ‘An awesome, gargantuan sight’
Pilgrims in Mina, Saudi Arabia. Pic: Reuters
What’s the Hajj?
One of many largest mass gatherings on this planet, the Hajj is a once-in-a-lifetime responsibility for able-bodied Muslims who can afford it.
Yearly a whole bunch of 1000’s of Muslims journey to the town of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad and of the faith of Islam.
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The Nice Mosque of Mecca – Masjid al-Haram – is residence to the Kaaba. It’s Islam’s holiest website and the path by which Muslims all around the world face once they pray.
Greater than 1.8 million pilgrims had been anticipated to participate this 12 months, in accordance with the Saudi Normal Authority for Statistics.